Why Subscribe?
It's not for me. It's for you and your child...and your future selves will thank you.
When I created this account I was led to the “Why Subscribe” question on the About page and it gave me pause. Hmmm…“Why should anyone subscribe?
I started to write the obvious: “because I share parenting tips,” or “I post good stuff.” But it’s way deeper than that.
My first thought was for my sons. I do all of this so they can feel safe, loved and confident in a world that doesn’t always feel kind and accepting. These are my kids- well not an actual photo of them- they aren’t cartoons in real life.
But it’s bigger than them.
The truth is — I write, coach, research, and support so that all neurodivergent kids can grow up in a safer, healthier, kinder home and world. For every child who’s been put in a time-out, misunderstood at school, side-eyed on the playground, or quietly left out at the birthday party. I also do it for every parent doing their best with what little they know, wading through an avalanche of advice (and misinformation) while just trying to understand and help their kid.
Change always begins with awareness, then fresh perspective, and then action. And that’s what this free Substack is for — my way of tossing small stones of wisdom into an ocean of struggle, trusting the ripples will reach beyond my home, beyond my community, and into waves of kindness, reaching moms lost at sea.
Because here’s the thing:
It’s hard being a neurodivergent kid in a world that keeps nudging, correcting, and expecting you to be more “normal.”
It’s gut-wrenching as a parent to watch your child struggle not because of who they are, but because the world doesn’t know how to embrace difference.
And it’s the hardest job in the world to silence the noise of “shoulds” and outdated rules, to unlearn what we were taught, and to discover—through trial, error, and a lot of tears—what actually helps your child. Not just to de-escalate the storms in the moment, but to truly support their well-being, so they can enjoy their childhood now and grow into adults who feel whole, capable, and valued.
When you subscribe — whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, a neighbor, or that awesome friend who always says “tell me what to read so I can understand your kid better” — you’re joining a ripple effect.
You’re saying, I want to know what it’s like to live in their world.
You’re saying, I want to understand how to support other parents who live this 24/7.
You’re saying, I want to make life better for these kids — now and when they grow up.
How a Ripple Becomes a Wave (Heather Locklear, circa 1984 edition):
If you’re old enough to remember the Fabergé Organics shampoo ad, you know Heather basically invented the meme before memes were a thing: “It was so good I told two friends, and they told two friends, and they told two friends…”
That’s exactly how this works. One parent learns something new, then shares it. Then their friend shares it. Then a teacher, a grandparent, a neighbor. The more of us who know better, the more of us who actually do better. And just like that, what started as one small ripple in one family becomes a community… and then a movement, then a world of more compassionate people. A movement rooted not in fear or correction, but in kindness. One with far more impact than shinier hair.
Oh there is one other way you can make a difference beyond subscribing and sharing — Stop Judging what you don’t understand.
You’ve seen that viral video of an overwhelmed child melting down in a grocery store, throwing cakes and smashing soda bottles. Strangers encircling, staring. Phones out, recording for their chance to make a viral video. While the comment sections filling with, “That kid just needs a good smack,” or “My child would never do that,” or the classic, “Where is the parent?” there was a small child screaming for help. That child isn’t “bad.” He’s angry, scared, and drowning in emotions he doesn’t yet have the skills to manage. And the parent? She’s there, frozen in fear. Drowning in embarrassment. Crushed by shame. Desperately needing help, not judgment.
That’s the mom I’m writing for. The one seeking me, as much as I’m seeking her. And you can help us find each other.
So please subscribe if you are seeking a lighthouse in the storm of parenting a neurodivergent child. Please share if you know someone. I promise, even if you don’t know it, they are struggling.
Do it for your kids.
Do it for your friend’s kids.
Do it for the tired, scared kid about to enter a grocery store, who doesn’t want to be filmed having a breakdown. He just wants to feel safe, loved and understood. Like the rest of us.